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The Office
of the ANC Chief Whip has noted with concern the remarks in the media
attributed to an ANC Member of Parliament Angie Molebatsi during the funeral
of the victim of last week's police shooting, Olga Kekana, in Pretoria at
the weekend.

Molebatsi, whose constituency includes the Stinkwater
community in Pretoria, is quoted in several newspaper reports, amongst
others, allegedly defending the police action, and further telling the
mourners that "one way of another we are all going to die, regardless of
whether a cop shoots or you were ill".

The Office of the Chief Whip has
since interacted with Molebatsi with a view to get her version of the story
on this matter. We have noted her explanation that her remarks, made in
Setswana, were not intended to defend the brutal action of the police
officers, and that her message, which was aimed at consoling the bereaved
family, has been taken out of context.

The Office of the Chief Whip has no
reason to doubt that the MP had the best intentions of comforting the
community, particularly the family of the diseased. We believe that her
intentions were however harmed by the manner in which her message was
phrased.

We deeply regret this and offer our unreserved apology to the
bereaved family and the Stinkwater community for the pain this may have
caused.